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Russo-Ukraine War - 06 January 2024 - Day 682

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 22 December 2023, Ukrainian forces shot down three Russian Su-34 FULLBACK combat jets over southern Ukraine. Previously, Russian tactical air power had been playing a key role in the south, especially attacking Ukraine's bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

Following the losses, Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) almost completely ceased crewed operations in the south through late December 2023. There is a realistic possibility that the lack of air support contributed to the failure of an attempt by Russian Ground Forces' 18th Combined Arms Army to clear the bridgehead.

In recent days, Russia has again increased tactical air strikes around the bridgehead, but at a lower level than before the shootdowns. This once again demonstrates that Russia's inability to establish air superiority in the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine war continues to undermine their daily operations.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 6, there were 27x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 55x air strikes, carried out 23x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential and apartment buildings, and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandrivka, Vovchans'k, Prykolotne, Chuhunivka (Kharkiv oblast). Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Yeline, Popivka (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods'ke, Iskryskivshchyna, Myropil's'ke, Hrabovs'ke, Popivka, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Kozacha Lopan', Luk'yantsi, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The occupiers launched air strikes in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and near Terny, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x attack in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near New York settlement. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, conducted unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke.
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, made 5x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders launched an air strike near Staromaiors'ke settlement. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Staromaiors'ke, Urozhaine, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x assaults near Robotyne and south of Novodarivka, where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka and P'yatykhatky. More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the adversary fired artillery at the settlements of Tyahynka, Kherson, Oleksandrivka (Kherson oblast), as well as Kutsurub, Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

Russian forces do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 18x unsuccessful assaults. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line and keep inflicting significant losses on the Russian enemy.

During the day of January 6, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 19x concentrations of troops of the Russian occupiers.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 1x ammunition depot, 1x artillery system, 1x air defense radar station, 1x Tor surface-to-air missile system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces and artillery, four counterattacks by assault groups of AFU 30th and 32nd mechanised brigades have been repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).
In addition, enemy strongholds have been hit near Kislovka, Kotlyarovka, Tabaevka, and Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 80 AFU servicemen, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, one Olkha MLRS combat vehicle, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have hit AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.
The enemy losses were up to 100 troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces and artillery, two enemy counterattacks have been repelled near Georgievka, units of 28th, 42nd mechanised brigades of the AFU have been defeated close to Andreevka, Bogdanovka, Kleshcheevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 190 soldiers, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four pickup trucks.
In addition, Msta-B, D-20, and D-30 howitzers have been hit during counter-battery warfare.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, with the support of Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, have defeated formations of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 90 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of skillful actions by units of the Russian Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, and artillery, manpower and hardware of 117th mechanized, 71st infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine have been eliminated close to Verbovoye, Rabotino, and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 25 soldiers, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Dnepr Group of Forces and systematic fire, the enemy losses were up to 45 servicemen, one tank, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, as well as one ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been destroyed near Ingulets (Kherson region).

Over the past period, Missile Troops and Artillery, Operational-Tactical Aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one control point of the Donetsk Operational Tactical Group close to Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), 127 artillery units in firing positions, manpower, and military hardware in 138 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Tyaginka (Kherson region).

Four aircraft guided missiles have been intercepted, as well as one HIMARS projectile.

In addition, 29 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been hit close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Kardashinka and Kairy (Kherson region).

In total, 565 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,488 unmanned aerial vehicles, 447 air defence missile systems, 14,494 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,201 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,645 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,121 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.